Division I - Biology, Chemistry, and Process Engineering

Division I comprises twenty KIT research institutes, the KIT Department of Chemistry and Biosciences and the KIT Department of Chemical and Process Engineering as well as the Helmholtz Research Field Information with P2 - Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing (NACIP) und P3 - Materials Systems Engineering (MSE).

Together we are focusing on our new research theme "Material and energy cycles in circular economy, life science engineering, process technology and digitalization". In this way, we research and teach the latest processes and methods of material and energy conversion for the circular economy and build a synergistic bridge to the life sciences. In terms of content, the size scales are addressed both theoretically and experimentally from nanogram synthesis to the near-industrial ton scale. All research in Division I is geared to the requirements of a resource-efficient data-based society.

Professor Dr. Andrea Robitzki has been Head of Division I since February 15th, 2020,

Head of Division I

Prof. Dr. Andrea Robitzki

Contact Team Division I

Material and energy circuits in circular economy, life science engineering, process technology and digitization

Photocatalytic membrane filtration system with a sun simulator. The membranes are coated with titanium dioxide. (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT)

Water Processing: Light Helps Degrade Hormones

KIT Researchers Use Polymer Membranes Coated with Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Cleaning – Results Are Reported in Nature Nanotechnology.

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Researchers use CRISPR-Kill to prevent the model plant thale cress from forming secondary roots. (Photo: Angelina Schindele, KIT)

Using Gene Scissors to Specifically Eliminate Individual Cell Types

KIT Researchers Use CRISPR-Kill to Prevent the Formation of Specific Organs During Plant Development.

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Art historian Inge Hinterwaldner (Photo: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT), physical chemist Lars Heinke ((Photo: Gabi Zachmann, KIT), and materials researcher Christoph Kirchlechner (Photo: Markus Breig, KIT) receive an ERC Consolidator Grant.

Three ERC Consolidator Grants for KIT Researchers

Christoph Kirchlechner, Lars Heinke, and Inge Hinterwaldner Will Receive up to EUR 2 Million Each for Their Research Projects.

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3D model of a MOF in front of the enzyme-MOF flow reactor at the laboratory of KIT’s Institute of Functional Interfaces. (Photo: Dr. Raphael Greifenstein, KIT)

Biotechnology: Enzymes in a Cage

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) Increase the Stability of Biocatalysts and Enable Their Use in Organic Solvents – KIT Researchers Demonstrate Enzyme-MOF Flow Reactor.

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Germany-wide Pilot Project for Coronavirus Detection in Wastewater

KIT Coordinates Consortium to Test a Wastewater-based Covid-19 Early Warning System

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Professor Helge Stein explains the new platform to accelerate material development to Minister Theresia Bauer. (Photo: Daniel Messling, KIT) leunigungsplattform. (Foto: Daniel Messling, KIT)

Battery Research: First Fully Automatic Laboratory Starts Operation

New Research Facility of the POLiS Cluster of Excellence Accelerates Battery Development – Commissioning in the Presence of the Science Minister.

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Schematic representation of a solid-state battery. (Graphics: JLU/Elisa Monte)

FestBatt: The Next Step in Solid-state Batteries

The BMBF Competence Cluster for Solid-state Batteries Enters Its Second Funding Phase – KIT Coordinates Characterization Platform.

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Microscopy of a nucleus: Transcription factories are colored orange, activated genes light blue. The nucleus has about one tenth of the thickness of a human hair. (Figure: Working groups Nienhaus and Hilbert, KIT)

How Cells Correctly Choose Active Genes

Formation of Transcription Factories Resembles Condensation of Liquids – KIT Researchers Report in Molecular Systems Biology

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